London's South Bank festival grows

The Udderbelly is to be part of a bigger carnival-themed festival when it returns to London’s South Bank for its annual summer stint.

Tim Minchin is to be the headline act at the upside down purple cow, which takes its place beside the London Eye from April 6 to July 8 next year.

But in May it becomes part of a bigger London Wonderground site, also including a 600-capacity Spiegeltent for cabaret, music and circus acts, which will stay in place until September alongside sideshows and carnival attractions.

Other highlights at the 400-seater Udderbelly – which is returning to the site for a fourth year – include Greg Proops, Rufus Hound, Richard Herring and The Boy With Tape On His Face

The new festival has been put together by Underbelly and the Southbank Centre,whose artistic director Jude Kelly said: ‘We wanted to revive the idea of a pleasure garden beside the river as well as conjuring up images of Coney Island with its fairgrounds and vaudeville spirit.’

Tickets for some of the Udderbelly shows have gone on sale here.

Published: 16 Dec 2011